What can it do?

Welcome to the beta Arthritis Virtual Assistant. At the moment it can give you general information about your condition and medication, and provide you with useful exercises to help manage your arthritis.

Why do we need your help?

The Arthritis Virtual Assistant has been built to learn and improve with every use. That way, whenever you use it, you’re indirectly helping another person get the answers that they need for their arthritis.

What can you ask?

You'll get the best response if your question relates to a single type of arthritis, and is expressed as clearly and simply as possible. For example, "What are the best exercises for osteoarthritis?" or "What are the side effects of methotrexate?"

Are you sure you want to close your conversation?

Your conversation will not be visible the next time you visit the Arthritis Virtual Assistant. If you want to keep a copy of the advice you've been given, you can print it using the button at the top of the chat window.

Arthritis Virtual Assistant

The Arthritis Virtual Assistant is being developed into a brand new type of tool which will help you to get the answers you need for your type of arthritis.

This automated chat service is designed to provide general information about your condition and ways you can manage it. It’s been developed from over 80 years of our research work and also learns from the experiences of its users. It’s a ‘beta’ version which means it’s still learning from you, and others. It uses artificial intelligence to decide which are the best responses to give you and it will improve each time it’s used. The better the information we can provide then the more people we can help to manage their condition too.

The advice in this service isn’t a substitute for professional medical advice so we’d always recommend speaking to your doctor about your treatment. When you use the Arthritis Virtual Assistant, you’ll be asked for your first name and the type of arthritis you have, there’s no need to tell us anything more personal than that.

Ciclosporin

What is ciclosporin and why is it prescribed?

Ciclosporin is a type of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD). It dampens down the underlying disease process, rather than simply treating symptoms. Read more

How do I take ciclosporin and how long does it take to work?

Ciclosporin is usually given in capsule form twice a day, though it's also available as a liquid. It may be up to four months before you notice any benefit. Read more

What are the possible risks and side-effects of ciclosporin?

Ciclosporin can cause a rise in blood pressure and affect the kidneys. It can also affect your liver at high doses and can sometimes increase the levels of lipids (for example cholesterol) in your blood. Read more

Can ciclosporin affect other medicines and treatments?

You may be prescribed ciclosporin along with other drugs. You should discuss any new medications with your doctor and always tell any other doctor treating you that you’re on ciclosporin. Read more

Can I drink alcohol if I'm on ciclosporin?

There's no particular reason to avoid alcohol while on ciclosporin, so it's fine to drink aclohol in moderation. Read more

Can ciclosporin affect fertility, pregnancy or breastfeeding?

Current guidelines state that ciclosporin can be taken when you're pregnant. If you're planning a family or become pregnant when you're on ciclosporin, discuss this with your doctor. Read more

For more information, go to www.arthritisresearchuk.org.Arthritis Research UK fund research into the cause, treatment and cure of arthritis. You can support Arthritis Research UK by volunteering, donating or visiting our shops.